Mail-box.



Patented Nov. I9, I901. J. (1. ADAMS.

MAIL BOX.

' n filed May 4, 1901.)

(No Model.)

llTE STATES PATENT O FICE.

JOHN Q. ADAMS, OF MARENGO, ILLINOIS.

MAlL-BQX.

SPEGIFIUATION forming part of Letters lPatent No. 686,694, dated November 19, 1901.

Application filed May 4, 1901. $eria1 No. 58,685. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN Q. ADAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marengo, in the county of McHenry and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to construct a mail-box in which one side of the box has a pivoted section in order that the mail-matter may be readily taken from the box.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an isometrical representation of my improved mail-box in its closed position. Fig. 2 is an isometrical representation of my improved mail-box in its open position. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section, and Fig. 4 is an isometrical representation of the end of the box to which the signal is attached.

The mail box has one side 1 and top 2 formed from a single piece of material, the top being curved and provided with an opening 3. The top has an overhanging portion 5, closed by a hinged lid 6. Ends 7 are secured to the back and top; and a brace S connects the lower free corners of the ends. A brace 13 connects the upper corners of the ends. \Vithin the box is located a mail-matter receptacle having a pivotal connection with the box and comprises circular ends 9, and a casing partially surrounds the ends, leaving an opening 11, one end of the casing bent to form a hook 12. A staple 14 serves to connect the movable receptacle to the box proper. In this instance the pivotal connection of the receptacle with the casing is about diametrically opposite the hook, and the opening is about one-fourth of the circumference of the receptacle. When the receptacle is in its closed position, mail-matter passed through the opening 3 will drop into the receptacle, and when the receptacle is opened it will rest against the brace 8, and the mail-matter contained therein will be presented at the openin g in the receptacle and may be readily taken out. The overhanging edge 4 of the box and the hooked portion of the receptacle will form a water-tight joint between the parts. The receptacle is formed of one side and the bottom of the box proper, and by means of the hook 12 the receptacle canbe turned to open position. A spiral spring 15 has one end connected to the box proper and its other end to the movable receptacle. This spring serves to hold the box closed, and by passing the pivotal center of the receptacle will hold it open.

To one end of the box is secured an eye 16 and a catch 17. A rod 18 passes through the eye 16 and through an opening in the top of the box. The lower end of the rod has an extension 19, and above the eye 16 extends an arm 20. A coiled spring 21 has one end connected to the top of the box and its other end to the extension 19 of the rod 18. Asignal 22 is supported by the upper end of the rod. When the mail-carrier places mail-matter in the box, he will liberate the arm 20 from the catch 17, and the spring 21 will raise the rod 18 and elevate the signal 22 into the position shown at Fig. 2, and when the owner of the box takes the mail-matter from the box he will move the rod down and place the arm under the catch.

I claim as my invention In a mail-box, the combination of a box proper and a signal, the signal comprising a .for the rod supported by the box, a hook eX tending from the box, an arm extending from the rod capable of engaging the hook, and a spring connected with the box and rod.

JOHN Q. ADAMS. WVitnesses:

M. A. ERBY, M. O. FRITZ. 

